Fluid sealing device



1950 J. H. F. STEWART 2,533,201

FLUID SEALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1946 INVENTOR. /Z7/ /A/ hiF." ETE'MFT F77- ram/5r Patented Dec. 5, 1.950

TED PATENT F FIC E rnnmcsmnmoznsvrce .(hi'lmiEiF.*StewartJDetmit, Mich. Application January'u, 1945, .S.er-ial;No..-Ii40516 devices have heretofore heen used. The range of :action on "the latter type of "springsfhowever,

is relatively "short and there is an intermediate zonewitliin which neither the'h'l'ical'wire spring nor the other types .meritionedwillprovide "sulficient range "of action and, at the same time, come within the available axialspace.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- Vide 'an improved spring device which occupies less axial space than an equivalent heiical spring and, at the 'same time, provides a greater range of action than is available from other types .of

springs having a short axiallength.

It is a further object of the f'invention tmprovide a spring of this character comprisingta annular base "having a plurality .of wire "spring elements secured "thereto, which elements, when subjected to compression "fo1'ces,:are inherently stable in the sense "that'there is no tendency for them to tip to one side. v

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top view of a spring device embodyinga preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the spring shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic top view of one of the spring elements.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of one of the spring elements.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an annular base element It, preferably formed of sheet metal, and having an L-shaped cross section to provide a flat flange l2 and an upstanding short tubular section I4. Secured to the base II] are a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements I6. The elements l6 are formed with a flat base portion l 8 curved to fit the base III in the plane thereof. Each element H at is free end is bent upwardly at an acute angle to the plane of the base, forming an active tip 20.

:2' As shown in Figure 2, the free ends Or' -tips- ZU are curved slightly "so as to present a less "acute angle to the 'p'laneof thebase at their endsthan they "do at the point where they join "with the base "portion "98. 'The'sprin'g elements HE "are secured to the base lil'iniany suitable way, preferablyby-crimping over'sections of th'e upstan dine tubular "part M as shown at'22. 'Tlrefreeends or tips may also 'be curved slightly radially inward, as. seen in Figure 1 "toprovide 'aflightpirictional grip lh'iDIl any male cylindrical "member with which this spring device is associated. Alternatively, "this feature may be omittefiand lth'e tipnf the spring element may directly \o'verlietth'e base portion fill, as seen ".in'Fielute IL, .or they may belbentioutwardly to engage .a female cylindrical element with which the spring .is associated. .The device as thus constructed may be mounted in any suitable annular space bf ,short .axial length and will provide compressive spring -.action through asubstantial vdistanceatlleast ec ual to half :the .i-"ree .l-height of the device. With a helical rspringrof 'lthe :same capacity, 'a much Jarger wire -diameter would be required, and ;-it will be evident that with even :aminim-um number -spf turns the -.compressed or :solid length-of ifsucha spring would rnuch :greater than :the :iree height of the device disclosed.

Another feature of the present device concerns the characteristics of the individual spring elements I6 which are completely free from any tendencies to tip or twist with respect to the base element 10. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the projected area of the base is a circular segment and the point of application of force is at the tip of the free end. Since these tips overlie the base area, any endwise force is supported upon a broad base and there is no tendency for the element to tip or roll with respect to base In.

The curvature of the tip 20 which is seen in Figure 2 enables the spring elements to flex through a considerable distance when pressed by any flat annular member and, at the same time, to maintain contact with such member at the very tip of the element. Without this ourvature there is a tendency for the contact point between the spring element and the adjacent abutment member to move away from the tip toward the point where the free end is joined with the base portion. By securing the spring element to the base at points which are spaced from the very ends of the base portion, some flexibility is allowed in the extended ends of the base portion permitting these ends to raise upwardly 3 slightly (Figure 2) as the tips of the free end 20 are depressed.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a spring device capable of fitting within a very short axial length, while at the same time providing a relatively large range of action.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element having a flat base portion curved to extend along an arc of the base member and having its free ends curved back at an acute angle to overlie the base portion.

2. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element having a flat base portion curved to extend along an arc of the base member and having its free ends curved back at an acute angle to overlie the base portion, the free ends of the elements lying within the axial projection of the segment of said are whereby each spring element is stably supported against tipping when subject to axial compression.

3. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element having a fiat base portion curved arcuately to fit the base and having its free ends inclined back over the base portion at an acute angle.

4. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element having a fiat base portion curved arcuately to fit the base 4 and having its free ends inclined back over the base portion at an acute angle and curved toward a less acute angle at their tips with respect to the base portion.

5. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and of L-shaped cross section, and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element havin a fiat base portion curved arcuately to fit the base and having its free ends inclined back over the base portion at an acute angle.

6. An annular axially compressible spring comprising an annular base member of small axial height and of L-shaped cross section, and a plurality of one-piece wire spring elements secured to the base at spaced locations around its periphery, each spring element having a flat base portion curved arcuately to fit the base and having its free ends inclined back over the base portion at an acute angle, the base member having portions thereof crimped over the base portions of the spring elements.

'7. A spring element comprising a single piece of wire having a flat base portion curved in one plane to extend along the arc of an area in the general shape of a circular segment and having at least one free end portion bent out of said plane at an acute angle to the base portion with its tip lying Within the perpendicular projection of said area whereby the element resists tipping when subject to compression forces perpendicu lar to the plane of the base.

, JOHN H. F. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

